New Lakers coach Frank Vogel has twice been an NBA head coach before: He led his most successful teams with the Indiana Pacers, accumulating a 250-181 record. He most recently coached two years with the Orlando Magic, finishing with a 54-110 record. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

“We are excited to add Frank Vogel as the next head coach of the Lakers,” General Manager Rob Pelinka said in a team-issued statement. “Coach Vogel has a proven track record of success in the NBA playoffs, and he reflects the core qualities we were looking for in a head coach – including, detailed game preparation, extreme hard work, and holding players accountable to the highest basketball standards.”

The hiring announcement marked the first public statement by the upper levels of the organization in more than a month, when the Lakers announced Luke Walton would not return as head coach after a three-year stint. The Lakers’ top officials have been largely tight-lipped since April 9 when team president Magic Johnson resigned – he has yet to be officially replaced.

The Lakers will officially introduce Vogel on May 20, following the NBA’s draft lottery and combine this week in Chicago.

The 45-year-old New Jersey native has twice been an NBA head coach before: He led his most successful teams with the Indiana Pacers, accumulating a 250-181 record. He most recently coached two years with the Orlando Magic, finishing with a 54-110 record.

The Lakers will charge Vogel to find a way back to the postseason following a six-year playoff drought, the longest in franchise history. He’ll be expected to find a breakthrough where his predecessor, Walton (98-148 record), could not. He’ll have the advantages – and the challenges – of coaching LeBron James through his current contract, which runs through the next three seasons (final year is a player option0. He’ll also likely inherit promising young players from recent drafts, including Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, with the task of molding them into pieces of a contending squad.

Vogel has been to the postseason five times in eight seasons as a head coach. He’s twice reached the conference finals, contending with James’ Miami Heat teams in 2013 and 2014. Part of his success was built on cultivating a strong relationship with Paul George, whom Vogel helped develop into a perennial All-Star. He has a reputation as a defense-first coach who twice led the NBA’s stingiest unit (statistically).

“I am very excited for this opportunity to join the Lakers, a prestigious organization that I have long admired,” Vogel said. “I look forward to coaching such phenomenal talent and bringing my strategic vision to the team.”

Vogel’s official hire marks the end of a lengthy and sometimes fraught coaching search for the Lakers. As recently as a week ago, they were widely expected to hire former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue, whose deep-rooted relationship with James includes three straight NBA Finals appearances and the 2016 championship. Talks broke down Wednesday, with Lue reportedly taking issue with the years and salary offered by the Lakers, as well as the team’s desire to dictate assistant coaches on the staff.

The team did not officially announce any assistant coaches as of Monday afternoon, but they are expected to bring in former Nets and Bucks head coach Jason Kidd as an assistant. Kidd, 46, had previously interviewed for the head coaching role.

The Lakers also interviewed Monty Williams, who was hired by the Phoenix Suns; Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard; and former Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

The Lakers did not release the terms of Vogel’s deal. ESPN has reported that it spans three years.

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